We may finally, at long last, be seeing something that looks sort of like spring arriving across the United States and Canada. I don't want to jinx it though, being as that the season has been incredibly volatile this year, so I'll change he subject to something much less prone to superstitious whimsy, that of our ongoing streak of first records.
This week we must deal with a conundrum. Most firsts have been accompanied by nice photos and have more or less stuck around for multiple observers to corroborate, so the question of confirming a species' inclusion into the "official' record isn't a difficult one. This week's potential first isn't, though that's less a function of potential questions of the reporter and more of the species' ephemeral nature.
From Durham, North Carolina, this week, comes a compelling report of a White-collared Swift (ABA Code 4). The bird was seen well, though not while the observer was birding, but briefly, though long enough to note the relevant field marks. As one might expect, it was not refound. Only time and the state's records committee will tell whether this one will make it into the official record or be relegated to that surprisingly long list of big-swifts-that-could-have-been.
Elsewhere in the ABA-Area, good birds include a Plain-capped Starthroat (4) in Madera Canyon, Arizona, and a Varied Thrush in Cochise.
In Texas, a Flame-colored Tanager (3), that state's 11th record, was photographed in Big Bend NP.
Great for Florida is a Kirtland's Warbler in Alachua, and a Tropical Kingbird in Sarasota.
White-faced Ibis are showing up in several places on the east coast, including Ocean, New Jersey, and Jamestown, Rhode Island.
Better late than never, as Maine gets in on the Northern Lapwing (4) parade with one, their second of the year but the first twitchable report, near Poland.
A Gull-billed Tern turned up on Cape Sable Island, Nova Scotia.
Quebec also gets a Northern Lapwing (4) in Gaspésie and a Tufted Duck (3) in Lac-Saint-Jean.
In Ontario, a Laughing Gull was seen at the tip of Point Pelee, a Western Kingbird at Rondeau, and a pair of Black-necked Stilts in Essex.
The Biggest Week in American Birding in Ottawa, Ohio, wasn't all about the warblers this year when a Ruff (3) turned up nearby.
A Eurasian Wigeon was seen near Gary, Indiana.
A pair of Red-necked Phalaropes and a pair of Red Phalaropes in Jefferson, Kentucky, were the farthest inland of several reports of these species in the southeast.
In Missouri, a Lazuli Bunting was seen in Platte.
Illinois had a Western Tanager in Lake and a Ruff (3) of their own in Whiteside.
In Michigan, a Black-billed Magpie, one of fewer than 10 records for the state, was in Chippewa.
Wisconsin also had a Western Tanager this week, a nice male in Ozaukee.
Notable in Minnesota was a Painted Bunting in Atkin.
Always a nice find in the middle of the continent, a Red-throated Loon was seen over the course of the week in Johnson, Iowa.
Increasingly seen in the upper midwest, a Neotropic Cormorant was reported in Brule City, South Dakota.
At the same spot near Ketchum, Idaho, birders found both an Indigo Bunting and a Golden-crowned Sparrow.
Two Glossy Ibis in Cache, Utah, are that state's 11th and 12th records. Also in Utah, a Least Tern was well-photographed in Utah.
Up in Alaska, a Mountain Bluebird in Fairbanks is one of very few records in the interior of the state.
--=====--
This post is meant to be an account of the most recently reported birds. Continuing birds not mentioned are likely included in previous editions listed here. Place names written in italics refer to counties/parishes
Readers should note that none of these reports has yet been vetted by a records committee. All birders are urged to submit documentation of rare sightings to the appropriate state or provincial committees. For full analysis of these and other bird observations, subscribe to North American Birds <aba.org/nab>, the richly illustrated journal of ornithological record published by the ABA
The reference to "surprisingly long list of big-swifts-that-could-have-been" makes me wonder. Has anyone ever compiled a master list of every bird submitted to ABA area rare bird committees whose record was rejected? I am sure it would be fascinating reading...
Posted by: Morgan Churchill | 05/10/2013 at 12:20 PM
Included in such a list would be an Ivory-billed Woodpecker reported in New Hampshire a few years ago. Needless to say, the vote was unanimous not to accept it.
Posted by: Terry Bronson | 05/10/2013 at 03:03 PM
Morgan, I doubt a compilation of records across all states exists, but Utah at least posts all records, accepted or rejected ("not accepted" as we call them), and in many cases includes records that were not even submitted for review: http://www.utahbirds.org/RecCom/RareBirdsIndex.html In reference to large swifts specifically, there have been no records of large swifts submitted for Utah. (Black Swift is a scarce breeder in the state.)
Posted by: Ryan O'Donnell | 05/10/2013 at 03:25 PM
There was also a Neotropic Cormorant in Ontario, at Whitby (east of Toronto) on May 5.
Posted by: Alan Wormington | 05/10/2013 at 03:38 PM
An apparent Purple Sandpiper turned up yesterday in Calgary, perhaps a bit too late for this report. Seen by many observers again today.
Posted by: Jay VanderGaast | 05/11/2013 at 12:27 AM